Top 2012 Products from SHOT Show

Checking in live from this year’s Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show!

Day 1 of the world’s largest hunting trade show was as busy as I can ever recall, and I’ve been attending this show since 1995. There is literally something here from every end of the market, from handguns to tree stands and from flashlights to clothing. I’m literally numb from the wealth of innovation revealed today by manufacturers. The Deer & Deer Hunting staff will post updates each day by posting the coolest new items we’re seeing on the show floor.

Here’s a peak at some of the most innovative new items I saw from this morning.

This blind takes concealment to a whole new level!

1. The TreeBlind from Nature Blinds. This is one of the coolest-looking deer blinds to come along in a long time. It’s also practical. The blind looks like an honest-to-goodness rotted-out tree stump. It’s made of the same closed-cell foam that is used in amusement park exhibits. The foam is durable enough to withstand the outdoors elements for decades. The TreeBlind is 88 inches high and is 77 inches in diameter. Six windows offer 360-degree views. Seamless construction and a blacked-out interior make it ideal for whitetail hunting. For more information, visit www.natureblinds.com.

The new Core IR from Stealth Cam.

2. The new Core mini-infrared digital camera from Stealth Cam. This camera is tiny in size but big in features. The Core has 40 IR emitters with a 50-foot range. It can take burst images or video clips and features a super-cool external control panel and LCD status display. It seems to be a truly no-nonsense camera for on-the-go hunters. For more information, visit www.stealthcam.com.

The Instinct is a two-man ladder stand from Sniper Treestands.

3. The Instinct ladder stand from Sniper Treestands. This is just one of several exciting new ladder stands from this company. It’s big, but loaded with comfort features, most notably the 55-inch wide platform that wraps around the tree. The seat does likewise, wrapping a full 38 inches around the tree base. Double ladder rails add safety and stability. The Instinct weighs 95 pounds and is made entirely of steel. Definitely a stand you’d want to consider when hunting with a partner. For more information, visit www.snipertreestands.com.

4. The Trophy Bag Kooler’s Fresh Game System. This is a product that can keep your venison safe and age it at the same time. Included in this kit is a portable cooler that can hold up to a 300-pound deer, Fresh Game Spray (same kind that is used in commercial butchering plants), and KoolerGel to kill bacteria on fresh meat. If you do as much early season bowhunting as I do, you too will want to check out this unique system. For more information, visit www.trophybagkooler.com.